Pohnpei Kingfisher

Todiramphus reichenbachii

The only kingfisher on Pohnpei. Dashing, with a dark greenish-blue back, snow-white underparts and collar, and orange crown. Favors open wooded habitats such as forest edge, gardens, and early-successional forest. Pounces on prey from a low and exposed perch. Gives a loud, insistent series of “kweep”s.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Todiramphus reichenbachii
Authority
Hartlaub, 1852
Order
Coraciiformes
Family
Alcedinidae
Genus
Todiramphus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Crimson-collared Grosbeak

Crimson-collared Grosbeak

Periporphyrus celaeno

Stocky and often rather sluggish bird of tropical forest and edge in lowlands and foothills of northeast Mexico. Usually found as singles or pairs, feeding quietly at all levels in fruiting trees or bushes. Note the thick stubby bill and rather long tail. Adult male is striking: dark overall with a black hood and broad pinkish-red collar. Female is drab greenish overall with black hood similar to male. Immature is like female but with less extensive black hood.

Great Knot

Great Knot

Calidris tenuirostris

Medium-sized, stocky shorebird found almost exclusively on coastal mudflats during migration, seldom inland. Distinctive adult in breeding plumage has a brick-orange upperwing patch, blackish back, and chest with black mottling. Duller nonbreeding and juvenile plumages are grayish brown above, white below, with grayish mottling in neck and upper breast. Smaller Red Knot much paler in nonbreeding plumage and has shorter bill. Flight call a sharp, whistled “kweet-kweet.”

Brown-rumped Bunting

Brown-rumped Bunting

Emberiza affinis

A colorful, boldly marked bunting. Note the black-and-white facial pattern, the brown back and rump, and the yellow underparts. Found in broadleaf woodland, moist savanna, and cultivated areas. Similar to Golden-breasted Bunting, but separated by the narrower black stripes on the face, the yellow belly, and the lack of white wingbars. Somewhat similar to Cabanis’s Bunting, but separated by the brown back and the mostly white rather than black cheek patch. The song is a quick warbling jumble, ending on a higher trill. 

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